Apple tree named ‘Ruby Pink’

ABSTRACT

Apple tree ‘Ruby Pink’ ( Malus domestica ) is a limb sport mutation of ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7880). The fruit of ‘Ruby Pink’ is notable for its uniform ellipsoid shape, highly colored skin and firm flesh. ‘Ruby Pink’ is a late maturing variety, with harvest typically occurring after ‘Cripps Pink.’

Genus and species: Malus domestica.

Variety denomination: ‘Ruby Pink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of appletree named ‘Ruby Pink,’ which was discovered as a limb sport growingamong a uniform block of ‘Cripps Pink’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,880) appletrees in a cultivated area of Main Ridge, Victoria, Australia. The limbsport mutation was discovered in May 1999 and progeny first asexuallypropagated in September 1999. Twenty-three trees on ‘M26’ rootstock wereproduced in 1999 with a further 400 produced via summer budding inFebruary 2000. The original limb sport and progeny have been observedgrowing in a cultivated area of Red Hill South, Victoria, Australia, andthe first observed fruiting of the propagated trees occurred in the 2001season with mature fruit observed in May 2001.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The ‘Ruby Pink’ variety is distinguished from ‘Cripps Pink’ and otherapple varieties by the following unique combination of characteristics:the fruit is uniformly ellipsoid, as compared to the asymmetricalellipsoid shape of ‘Cripps Pink’; the fruit has a higher percentage ofred color than ‘Cripps Pink,’ with fruit up to 100% red colored; thefruit matures later than ‘Cripps Pink’; and the fruit has a higherfirmness rating than ‘Cripps Pink.’

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by grafting and budding ontorootstock shows that the foregoing and all other characteristics anddistinctions come true to form and are established and transmittedthrough succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the distinctive color of ‘Ruby Pink’ apples, ascompared to ‘Cripps Pink’ apples;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the fruit and branches of ‘Ruby Pink’.

The colors of this illustration may vary with lighting conditions and,therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should bedetermined with reference to the observations described herein, ratherthan from these illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the ‘Ruby Pink’ variety is basedon the originally identified tree and asexually reproduced progeny,grown on ‘M26’ rootstock, at Lucaston, Tasmania, Australia. Certaincharacteristics of this variety may change with changing environmentalconditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture), nutrient availability,or other factors. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average ofmeasurements taken from a number of individual plants of the newvariety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group ofplants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average. Colordescriptions and other terminology are used in accordance with theirordinary dictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Color designations are made with reference to The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

-   Parentage: Limb sport mutation of ‘Cripps Pink.’-   Tree:    -   -   Age of described tree.—3 years.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Overall shape.—Upright spreading.        -   Height.—2.4 m.        -   Width.—0.8 m.        -   Trunk.—Medium Stocky; 25 mm at 300 mm above the ground, 100            mm above the graft union.        -   Trunk bark texture.—Smooth.        -   Trunk bark color.—Grey-Brown RHS N199A.        -   Patches or other markings.—White colored spots and scales,            RHS N155B.        -   Primary branches.—Stout; branches emerge at an angle of            about 60 to 90 degrees with branches higher in the tree            emerging at approximately 60 degrees. Exemplary 2-year-old            primary branches have been observed to have a caliper of            about 9 mm measured at the base.        -   Branch color.—One-year old branches are Greyed-Purple RHS            183A, while older branches are Grey-Brown RHS 199B.        -   Branch pubescence.—Slight; White RHS 155A.        -   Branch lenticels.—Medium density, approximately 12 per            square centimeter; Elongated; White RHS N155B; length 1 mm;            width 0.5 mm.        -   Internodes length (average, 1 year old shoot).—3.5 cm.        -   Bearing.—Annual.        -   Hardiness.—Australian Zone hardy, comparable to ‘Cripps            Pink’.        -   Drought, disease and insect resistance.—Comparable to            ‘Cripps Pink’.-   Leaves:    -   -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Sheen.—Glossy.        -   Length.—About 9 cm to 10.5 cm; average 9.6 cm (average            measurement from ten typical leaves).        -   Width.—About 4.8 cm to 6.4 cm; average 5.4 cm (average            measurement from ten typical leaves).        -   Petiole.—Length 30 mm, diameter 1.8 mm; Greyed-Purple RHS            184A.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Tip shape.—Acute.        -   Stipules.—Quantity 2; opposite, Yellow-Green RHS 147A;            slender, length 10 mm to 16 mm.        -   Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface: Green RHS 147A. Lower leaf            surface: Green RHS 146B. Vein: From Greyed-Purple RHS 184A            at the base of the leaf to White RHS 155B at the apex.        -   Pubescence.—Light.-   Flowers:    -   -   Buds.—Unopened — Length 15 to 20 mm, diameter 8 to 10 mm;            Purple RHS 63A; Opened — Red-Purple RHS 69C.        -   Size.—Medium, 50 mm in diameter.        -   Shape.—Ovoid to round.        -   Color.—Upper petal surface: Red — Purple RHS 63A; Lower            petal surface: Red-Purple RHS 69C.        -   Petals.—5 petals per flower; ovate; Length 22 mm, width 14            mm; petals not touching; margin smooth.        -   Stamen.—20 to 25 per flower; length 5 mm to 10 mm; arranged            in a straight row; filaments Greyed-Green RHS 192D; anthers            Yellow RHS 4C.        -   Pistil.—Stigma — length 10 mm; Styles — Quantity 5, fused at            base, Yellow-Green RHS 144D.        -   Sepals.—5 per flower; length 8 mm, width 4 mm; Green RHS            144D tinged at the tip with Red-Purple RHS 59B; Arranged            separately.        -   Pollen.—Yellow RHS 4C.        -   Pollination requirements.—There are no specific pollination            requirements.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.        -   Bloom season.—In 2002 at Lucaston in Tasmania, Australia,            blooming began on the 2^(nd) of October; full bloom on the            9^(th) of October; finishing on the 16^(th) of October.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Medium to large; Length 69 mm, width 71 mm (average of            10 typical ‘Ruby Pink’ apples).        -   Shape.—Asymmetrical, ellipsoid; ribbing is present; small            lobes observed at calyx end.        -   Cavity.—Width 33 mm, depth 15 mm.        -   Basin.—Width 30 mm, depth 11 mm.        -   Stem.—Length 30 mm, diameter 2 mm; Greyed-Purple RHS 184A.        -   Locules.—5 open locules with seeds free of the carpel wall            at maturity.        -   Skin.—Thin skin; glossy with a tendency to become waxy at            maturity.        -   Lenticels.—Present but not conspicuous; diameter 5 mm,            generally cream in color.        -   Color.—General color effect: Pink-Red RHS 46B. Ground color:            Yellow-Green RHS 154C at maturity. Overcolor: Pink-Red RHS            46B. Russetting: Nil.

Ten typical apples of ‘Ruby Pink’ and ‘Cripps Pink’ cultivars from treesgrowing near to one another, were obtained on the 26^(th) of April 2004and tested for certain properties. The average of these properties wereas follows:

‘Ruby Pink’ ‘Cripps Pink’ Firmness 9.9 9.7 (pressure kg/cm²) StarchIndex 5.0 5.5 On Scale of 1 (high starch) to 6 (low starch) SolubleSolids 13.3 14.4 (in percent) Red Color Rating 4.5 3.5 On a scale of 1(low) to 5 (high)

-   -   -   Flavor.—Sub-acid to Sweet; about 13.5 to 15.5 Brix.        -   Juiciness.—Moderately juicy.        -   Flavor.—Full-bodied flavour.        -   Flesh color.—Yellow RHS 11D.        -   Aroma.—Moderate.        -   Core.—Generally round in shape; Diameter 30 mm; calyx tube            closed; core lines defined.        -   Seeds.—About 1 to 2 seeds per cell; acute in shape; length            8.5 mm, width 5 mm; Greyed-Orange RHS 175A.        -   Fruit production.—First picking date in 2004 at Lucaston,            Australia, was about 23 April; last picking date was about 3            May.        -   Storage.—Fruit remains fresh at room temperature for 7 days,            and can be stored up to 6 months in cold storage (34° F.).        -   Usage.—Fresh eating.

1. What is claimed is a new and distinct apple tree as herein shown anddescribed.